Pediatric PT Approved Toys for Newborns (0-3 months)

As a mom to a new baby, I have realized that less is more with baby toys. There are so many flashy toys out there, but truly the simple ones are the best! Below are some of my favorite toys for newborns and young infants that I regularly use and recommend as a pediatric physical therapist and mom. Each one supports a different aspect of early development. They also make great unique baby shower gifts!

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Manhattan Toy Winkel

This is a favorite in our household! This toy is lightweight so easy to hold for littles and also becomes a great teething toy once your baby starts bringing objects to their mouth. I even like to pop it in the freezer for a little while to give my daughter something cool to chew on when she's teething.

Benefits

• Supports midline hand use and both hands working together

• Supports oral motor exploration (safe chewing/teething)

• Lightweight and easy to hold

• Promotes cause-and-effect play when shaken (it rattles!)

• Doesn't roll away like the O-Ball

How to use

Offer the Winkel while your baby is lying on their back, during tummy time, or in sidelying.

For younger babies, you can place it in their hands to encourage grasping or shake it slightly to get their attention. As your baby grows, place it just within reach to encourage active reaching and bringing both hands together at midline.

Click the photos below for links to the respective Amazon sites

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  Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle

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  Winkel ColorPop

Mirrors

Babies are naturally drawn to faces- including their own! Mirrors can be a great motivator for tummy time and other floor skills. I love portable smaller mirrors for tummy time anywhere in the house or on-the-go.

Benefits

• Encourages longer tummy time tolerance

• Promotes head lifting and neck strength

• Supports visual engagement and self-recognition

• Encourages early social smiling and interaction

How to use

Place the mirror slightly in front of baby during tummy time to encourage active lifting and reaching. You can make this even more engaging by adding some fun suction spinners.

One of my favorite "baby hacks" has been keeping a larger

mirror next to our play mat. It makes it easier for my daughter to see herself and me while we play together, which helps keep her engaged a little longer.

Click the photos below for links to the respective Amazon sites

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  Our favorite play area mirror

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  On-the-go tummy time mirror

High Contrast Cards

In the early days, babies are still developing their ability to focus and see the world around them. High-contrast cards are easy to see for those little eyes!

Benefits

• Supports visual tracking and focus

• Encourages early attention span development

• Strengthens eye muscle coordination

• Great for tummy time engagement
  

How to use

Place cards about 8–12 inches from baby’s face during tummy time or sidelying. I also found these especially helpful when my daughter began developing a head-turn preference around 2 weeks old. I would position the cards on her non-preferred side to encourage her to gently turn her head in that direction.

(If your baby consistently prefers looking one way, has difficulty turning their head in both directions, or is developing a flat spot on one side of their head, it may be an early sign of torticollis. I recommend bringing it up with your pediatrician or a pediatric physical therapist. You can also check out my blog post on torticollis and head-turn preferences to learn what to watch for and how to encourage symmetrical movement at home.)

Click the photos below for links to the respective Amazon sites

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  Black and white card book

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  Baby black and white flashcards

Crinkle Books

Crinkle books are one of those toys that grow with your baby. In the beginning, they're wonderful for visual exploration, and as your baby gets older, they'll begin reaching for them, grabbing them, and eventually turning the pages. The crinkly sound also provides instant feedback that keeps babies engaged. Our absolute favorite book is in the Jellycat Tail Series, however it looks like these are being retired! I found it at one boutique site, however I will link a few great options that can be found on Amazon as well.

Benefits

• Encourages reaching and grasping

• Provides auditory feedback through the crinkle sound

• Supports sensory exploration with different textures

• Promotes visual attention with bright, high-contrast pictures

• Encourages bilateral hand use as babies begin holding the book with both hands

• Great motivation for tummy time

How to Use

For little babies (1-2mos), prop the book up during tummy time or hold it about 8–12 inches from their face while talking about the pictures. As your baby gets older, place it within reach during floor play and let them explore it independently. They will probably spend more time chewing on it than "reading" it. This is developmentally appropriate and a great way for babies to explore their world!

Click the photos below for links to the respective Amazon sites

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  Ingenuity Storytime Sylvi Baby Crinkle Book

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  Fish Baby Crinkle Book

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  Woodland Crinkle Book

Baby Play Gym

A simple play gym is one of my favorite investments for the first few months. You don't need an expensive one—I personally have and love the Lovevery Play Gym, but there are many great options. I especially like gyms that include a few hanging toys with bells, crinkle fabric, or gentle rattles because they provide auditory feedback when baby accidentally bumps or intentionally bats at them.

Benefits

• Encourages reaching and batting during floor play

• Supports visual tracking as baby watches toys move

• Helps babies discover cause and effect ("When I move my arm, the toy makes a sound!")

• Promotes symmetrical movement by encouraging reaching with both arms

• Provides motivation for tummy time when toys can be positioned in front of baby

What to look for

• A sturdy arch that keeps toys within baby's reach

• A few removable hanging toys

• At least one toy with a bell, crinkle material, or gentle rattle

• A simple design that isn't overly busy or overstimulating

  
  

Remember that babies don't need tons of toys hanging overhead. Personally, I like just having one bell and maybe a crinkle toy hanging at one time.

Click the photos below for links to the respective Amazon sites

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  Skip Hop Baby Gym

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  LOVEVERY The Play Gym

Final Thoughts

Even though I've been working with babies as a pediatric physical therapist for years, I was still surprised by how early my own baby began noticing and enjoying toys. Even the youngest babies are curious about the world around them and benefit from simple, developmentally appropriate ways to play.

I've always considered myself somewhat of a minimalist (although preparing for a baby definitely put that to the test!). I didn't want our home (or my baby) to be overwhelmed by a collection of noisy, flashy toys from day one. Instead, I was intentional about choosing a handful of high-quality toys that would support baby's development, grow with them, and actually get used.

I'm so glad I registered for these toys ahead of time so they were ready when my baby was. Having them on hand meant I could easily encourage tummy time, reaching, visual tracking, and early exploration from the very beginning without scrambling to figure out what to buy once those milestones started appearing. These are the toys I found myself reaching for again and again, and the ones I recommend most often to the families I work with.